Six people were shot Thursday night (June 7) in the 3600 block of Franklin Avenue, according to New Orleans police.

The shooting was reported at 7:48 p.m. as a family was sitting on their porch, and more than one shooter was believed to have been involved, according to NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison.

The victims were all from the same family or close friends of the family, Harrison said. One of the victims was in critical condition and another was a child about 6 years old who suffered a graze wound, he said.

"This is just another senseless, cowardly act of violence," said Harrison, who spoke late Thursday with Mayor Mitch Landrieu at a news conference outside University Hospital.

Earlier in the evening, police had blocked off traffic in both directions in the 3600 block of Franklin Avenue, between Clover and Acacia streets.

About 15 investigators congregated in the neutral ground near a home, in front of which crime-scene techs had placed several evidence cones on the front lawn and sidewalk. Nine more cones were clustered in and near a driveway next to the home.

A woman who lives in the neighborhood and identified herself only as Yvette said she was outside sweeping when she heard at least six or seven gunshots. "I just dropped my broom and laid on the ground," Yvette said.

When she walked over to see what happened, Yvette said she saw an older woman in a dress, standing in the door of the home and "screaming and hollering."

She said she later saw that woman being put into an ambulance.

She said she also saw a younger woman in the front yard, screaming and limping.

Yvette said she also saw a man lying in front of the home, bleeding.

"He was moving," she said. "Thank god he was alive."

Stay with NOLA.com as more details become available on this breaking story.